How Are Ugg Boots Are Made?

Well we all know about this Ugg Boots fashion craze that's hit world don't we? Those ugly fluffy looking boots that originate from Australia. But how is humble Ugg Boot made?

The number one essential factor needed for manufacturing a genuine Australian Ugg Boot is material (the sheepskin hide).

You may be aware that their are plenty of different ugg boots styles popping up on internet these days. If you do a few basic searches on net you will find yourself a cheap pair of non-authentic uggs somewhere, but let me tell you 99% of ugg boots sold on internet are made in china. China made Australian ugg boots? Hmm how doess that work? Anyway these China boots are maufactured using inferior sheepskin internal material and probably suede external material which doesn't allow boot to breath and leaves you with a smelly boot you wont want to put back on after 4-5 wears.

These china made copies just dont stand up to Genuine Australian Made Boot. So one things for sure if your interested in buying a pair of sheepskin ugg boots on internet or anywhere for that matters, dont try to save a dollor or two when purchasing your boots?

If you want a boot that's warm in winter cool in summer then you must insist on a boot manufactured with Genuine Australian double faced Sheepskin preferbly Australian Merino Sheepskin.

One of questions often asked about ugg boots is:

Do you have to really kill poor sheep just to make a pair of sheepskin boots?

The answer is NO. Not one sheep has to be slaughted to obtain their hide and fleece. The sheepskins are shawn of sheep back and sheep regrow their fleece just like humans do hair. It's completely painless for sheep. I've been told by a few old school ugg manufaturers that sheep actually like experience of feeling free and would prefer to be shawn rather than have to carry a thick thick woolen coat around with them in hot Summer.

Once sheepskin hides are taken from sheep then process of preparing hide for manufacturers and ensuring hides are up to export standard begins.

Woolskins are usually preserved with salt prior to being processed by tanneries. At tannery skins are processed in large vessels called paddles which vary in capacity from 3000 to 15000 litres. In contrast to hide processing, in woolskin processing mechanical action is kept to a minimum in order to minimise felting of wool. Rotating blades on paddles move skins slowly and gently, and processing is performed at much higher float ratios (typically 20-35 litres of water per skin) than are used in hide processing.

Typically it takes about 10 working days for skins to be tanned and finished ready to be cut into panels for ugg boots.

Step 1. Tanning/ Processing

Soaking (16 hours) - The skins are rinsed in cold water to remove excess salt and dirt from wool and pelt. Rehydration (soaking) of pelt takes place in a fresh cold water float overnight.

Fleshing - The skins are fleshed using a fleshing machine which removes excess fat and muscle tissue from back of skins. This allows for more rapid and complete penetration of chemicals in later stages of processing, particularly during pickling and tanning.

Women and Friendship, is it as good or better than Chocolate?

Written by Tina Frazer

Women and Friendship, is it as good or better than Chocolate?

I'll start this article by admitting that I am a full-blown "chocoholic." I love way eating a piece of chocolate makes me feel. It's so indulging, satisfying, and to me is ultimate reward or excuse to instantly lift my spirits, calm my nerves, and just make me happy. This lead me to thinking about how few things in life are as good or better than chocolate.

Now, I would certainly have to rank being a Mom at top of list, but another big contender is Friendship. I think it is truly disappointing that we as women allow something as rewarding and bittersweet as friendship, to regularly take a back seat to our careers, husbands, children and busy demands of life. When you compare eating a piece of chocolate to spending time with friends, you will find a lot of commonalities...

ˇFriendship and Chocolate are both actually healthy for us. ˇFriendship and Chocolate both make us feel good. ˇFriendship and Chocolate can be addictive and both make us eager for more.

Did you know that researchers and scientists have suggested that chocolate contains compounds that can help maintain a healthy heart, good circulation, and reduce blood clotting? And, a Nurses study at Harvard Medical school found that women with friends were less likely to develop physical impairments as they aged.

I know for me personally, whether it's a few minutes on phone, a nice e-mail shared, lunch/dinner, or movie time spent with a friend, I am left feeling refreshed, happy, and ready to sing, "I feel like a Woman!" While I truly love being a Mom, I need friend time for me (even though half of it may be spent talking about children anyway). It just feels great to spend time with my girlfriends to gab about everything under sun, including love, relationships, finances, parenting, - and occasionally important topics like Brad Pitt!